Clinical Research in Small Animal Internal Medicine

Cats With Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common diseases of aging cats. It is known to be associated with oxidative stress in human patients with CKD, and the degree of oxidative stress directly reflects the degree of reduction in kidney function. Oxidative stress may also contribute to CKD progression. We are investigating urinary F2-Isoprostanes (F2-IsoP), a specific and reliable biomarker of oxidative stress in the kidney, to assess the degree of oxidative stress in cats with CKD of varying stages. The results of this study may provide additional prognostic information in cats with CKD and may allow for future therapeutic trials with antioxidants to attempt to slow the rate of disease progression.

We are currently enrolling cats with any stage of CKD. Cats with a urine specific gravity <1.030 without other metabolic disease are eligible for enrollment. Cats with concurrent systemic disease such as hyperthyroidism, heart disease, chronic GI disease, or diabetes mellitus unfortunately do not qualify.

This study will pay for the following:

• Examination by a veterinary internist or internal medicine resident
• Screening for concurrent illness (complete blood count, chemistry panel, urinalysis, urine culture, and total T4)
• IRIS substaging (blood pressure and urine protein:creatinine)
• Urinary F2-IsoP assay

To determine if a patient is eligible for this study, please contact Dr. Kelly Monaghan or Dr. Will Whitehouse at 608-263-7600. You may also send an e-mail to saim@vetmed.wisc.edu with any study questions or to schedule an appointment.

Sulfa Drug Allergy Study

Have any of your canine patients been treated with sulfa antibiotics? We are looking to obtain blood samples from dogs that have been treated with potentiated sulfonamide antibiotics. We are interested in dogs that have had uneventful treatment, as well as those with suspected adverse reactions (dry eye, skin eruptions, liver toxicity, thrombocytopenia, joint inflammation, or fever). We are looking for drug-specific T cells and genetic markers of sulfonamide hypersensitivity.

Eligibility: Dogs of any age that have been treated for at least one week with either Tribrissen, Primor, or human generic sulfa drugs (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole).

Protocol:

1. Obtain verbal client consent
2. Draw 6-10 ml blood in heparin
3. Keep sample at room temperature
4. Blood must be shipped overnight the same day that blood is drawn
5. E-mail Eva Bachar ebachar@wisc.edu or Lauren Trepanier latrepanier@vetmed.wisc.edu to obtain a FedEx stamp for free shipping.

Thank you for your help!

If you have study questions, please contact Dr. Lauren Trepanier Office: 265-9022; email: latrepanier@vetmed.wisc.edu

Urinary Incontinence in Female Dogs

We have observed resolution of urinary incontinence in canine patients supplemented with taurine. Taurine functions as a neurotransmitter within the nervous system. Objectives of this clinical trial are to determine if taurine is effective in achieving improvement in continence in spayed female dogs with urinary incontinence. Twenty percent of spayed female dogs will develop some degree of incontinence due to USMI, or urinary sphincter mechanism incontinence. Two medical therapies are available to improve the symptoms of urine leaking, but these treatments are often not 100% effective and side effects can occur. For study questions please contact Dr. Heidi Kellihan at 608-263-7600, or email saim@vetmed.wisc.edu.